CMU president apologizes for half-naked 'pope'

PITTSBURGH -- The president of Carnegie Mellon University has apologized for a student who dressed half-naked as the pope during a campus fine arts parade in April.

President Jared Cohon said in an e-mail that he had planned to remain silent until the school completes its ongoing internal disciplinary review of the incident.

But he instead decided to apologize for the unnamed student -- whose pubic hair was shaved in the shape of a cross as she threw condoms to onlookers -- in the wake of criticism of the incident by Pittsburgh Catholic Bishop David Zubik and others.

"This act was highly offensive and, as we have said, the university has been investigating the matter and following our procedures to determine if proper disciplinary action is warranted," Cohon wrote Wednesday.

Zubik has said he trusts the school will respond "responsibly" but said he felt a need to speak up for offended believers and to raise the issues of tolerance, bigotry and his concern that sacred symbols such as the cross not be mocked.